Valentine's Day is one of the busiest holidays for restaurants, with a quarter of Americans dining out. Restaurants need to start their promotions early if they want to attract customers and book up before the big day.
The right Valentine Day restaurant promotions can:
- Book up the restaurant
- Guarantee a big day
- Offer a romantic night out
While you can run any promotion you want, we have a few ideas that will work perfectly for restaurants of all types.
8 Valentine's Day Promotions for Restaurant Owners
1. Offer Valentine's Restaurant Specials
Valentine restaurant specials are going to be a little different this year due to pandemic restrictions. As a restaurant owner trying to generate as many sales as possible, it's important to focus on your Valentine menu ideas.
A few ideas are:
- Special discounts for couples
- Buy one-get-one meals
- EntrГ©es for two
Specials should be on the menu, too. Offer house specials for unique menu items, such as pasta with vodka sauce or special seafood options.
2. Change Up Your Drink Menu
Valentine's Day restaurant menus should be different. You may want to change the name of some drink items to help them sound more romantic. A few ideas for this special day are:
- Complimentary wine bottles
- Revamped cocktail menus
- Add fruity flavors and drinks to the menu
- Rename some items, such as added "Cupid's Cocktail" or "Lover's Special Tonic" to the menu
Some guests aren't big drinkers, so it may be a good idea to train your servers on how to recommend drinks that pair well with certain meals.
3. Offer Romantic Dinners To-Go
One interesting option this year that a lot of restaurants should consider as a Valentine's Day restaurant promotion is to offer dinners to-go. A lot of people have been in their homes this year as the pandemic rages on.
Immediately, we've noticed a major uptick in restaurants offering takeout and dinner to-go options.
If capacity issues persist and people's reluctance to go sit-down and eat, it's more important than even before to:
- Offer meals kits that people can heat at-home
- Offer extras, such as candles or a bottle of wine
- Add special dinners to the menu
People are going to want to order to-go options this year, and it's up to you to offer a memorable dinner option.
4. Create a Romantic Atmosphere
You can come up with dozens of Valentine's Day restaurant ideas, but they will all have one thing in common: a romantic atmosphere. You'll want to create a romantic atmosphere for the special day, which will include:
- Calm music that is different than your standard playlist
- Intimate lighting for the couple
- Candles if the space allows
- Roses on the table in either a bouquet or a single rose
Lighting and music can go a long way in creating a romantic atmosphere for guests. You'll also want to spruce up the waiting area and entryway. Red is the color of the day along with pink. Flowers will go a long way in helping you create a more romantic atmosphere that is perfect for Valentine's Day.
5. Partner with Local Businesses to Offer Package Deals
Consumers love when you offer special Valentine's Day promotions that include local business packages. For example, you'll want to connect with other local businesses in your area to make the event an all-day affair.
A few options that you have to choose from are to connect with the following businesses - there are numerous others, too:
- Spas that can package their offering with dinner
- Hotels that offer a discount meal at your restaurant
When you offer package deals, you'll help eliminate the planning process and make it as easy as possible for people to plan their Valentine's Day night.
6. Make it Reservation-Only with a Prix Fixe Menu
You may have a lot of Valentine Day restaurant ideas that you want to try, but the truth is that couples are often indecisive and don't want to think about what they're going to eat. When your guests need recommendations, you need to be prepared to help them.
A prix fixe menu reduces the options by offering:
- Recommended wine pairings
- Two or three options for each course
Add in a reservation-only option that allows all guests to feel special and like they're eating at an exclusive restaurant. Reservations can help you better prepare for the night and make sure that you have enough inventory in stock for all meals.
7. Create a Theme
Want to offer a memorable night? You can create a theme for the event that all of the guests will know ahead of time. If you're offering reservations only, you can make this a theme that all of the guests need to follow, too.
You can make themes for:
- Matchmaking and to celebrate the single life
- Chocolate tastings
- Old timer's day, where everyone dresses up like the 40s or 50s
You'll want to sit down with your chef and staff to come up with a theme that works well for your restaurant and customers. You may also want to have a theme for all waiters and waitresses if you don't want to turn customers away with themes that they have to adhere to when going to your restaurant.
8. Make it a Family Event
A lot of couples have kids, and when kids aren't welcome, the parents are more inclined to eat-in rather than go out to eat. Spread the love to the entire family. One restaurant had a great idea a few years ago that worked very well:
- Parents were able to eat their meal alone
- Kids were occupied with a card designing event
Kids were fed food and had fun while not having to interrupt the romantic evening. While some parents may want to bring their kids into the event, others may prefer to enjoy some alone time.
Restaurant Valentine's Day promotions must be started early and cater to people of all ages. When you run a promotion that really appeals to customers, you'll make their special night memorable. Be unique, fun and focus on your menu to really "wow" your guests and have them coming back to your eatery in the future.